Derrick Smith

Material Science and Engineering PhD Candidate

Derrick Smith is a 2nd year PhD student in Material Science and Engineering, where he is structuring polymer electrolyte membranes for rechargeable battery and fuel cell applications using a nanofabrication technique called holographic polymerization. These unique nanostructured films will both serve as next generation membrane separators and a model platform to study quantitatively ion confinement behaviors in dynamic systems. Derrick is currently funded by the NSF GRFP, works for Prof. Christopher Li and was also previously a BS/MS student in the MSE department.